Handbrake effort??

Brakepads, discs, handbrake. The brakes are crucial for your Volvo 480. Use this category to learn all you need to know!

Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel

Post Reply
User avatar
johnd
480 Expert
Posts: 675
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2003 1:59 pm

Handbrake effort??

Post by johnd » Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:50 pm

Handbrake was sh1te so fitted new cables and it now feels great and holds the car securely....until I took it for it's MOT and they say it's getting 30%/50% effort so there is a problem with the calipers.

Can you get service kits for the 480 Turbo and how much work is it to service them? Do you think this should remedy the problem?

If not, is GSF the best bet for replacement calipers?

Cheers

John
Citroen 2CV, lowered on 12" Wooden wheels, performance 1cm exhaust, stabilisers & chemical toilet in drivers seat

94 480 Turbo - now the missus's car!

Judas's car!! - 292BHP Celica GT4....I couldn't help myself!!

480_rocket
480 Veteran
Posts: 799
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 8:36 am
Location: Somerset, UK

Post by 480_rocket » Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:59 pm

I've jsut done my back pads so had to play with the adjustments etc.

How much did yours hold? I can still pull away with the hand brake up tight, but requires a fair amount of clutch slipping. My old car would drag it's rear wheels with handbrake on, that was drums.
'92 480 Turbo, full leather and air con

User avatar
johnd
480 Expert
Posts: 675
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2003 1:59 pm

Post by johnd » Mon Aug 08, 2005 3:26 pm

Hmmmm not sure how to quantify how much they hold apart from the 30/50 specified by the garage. Admittedly I haven't adjusted them with the allen bolts yet and I have a new set of pads to put on.

What affects the effort and how do I increase it?

Cheers

John
Citroen 2CV, lowered on 12" Wooden wheels, performance 1cm exhaust, stabilisers & chemical toilet in drivers seat

94 480 Turbo - now the missus's car!

Judas's car!! - 292BHP Celica GT4....I couldn't help myself!!

User avatar
johnd
480 Expert
Posts: 675
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2003 1:59 pm

.

Post by johnd » Tue Aug 09, 2005 3:23 pm

Hi guys,

Just had a thought.....could the lack of brake effort be due to the pad 4mm adjuster bolts not being setup right even though the handbrake cable is tight? With my old cables on the balancing bar 2-1 thing used to sit at about 45 degrees rather than flat and with the new cables it's a little off level making me think that maybe one cable is having to pull less than the other due to one pads sitting closer to the disc etc.

Just an idea

John
Citroen 2CV, lowered on 12" Wooden wheels, performance 1cm exhaust, stabilisers & chemical toilet in drivers seat

94 480 Turbo - now the missus's car!

Judas's car!! - 292BHP Celica GT4....I couldn't help myself!!

480_rocket
480 Veteran
Posts: 799
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 8:36 am
Location: Somerset, UK

Post by 480_rocket » Tue Aug 09, 2005 3:53 pm

When I put new pads on my handbrake 2-1 adjuster was really slack, but when adjusted, it went slighty wonky.

Mines got better now, I think the pads needed to bed in. Though I notice the car moves slighty to the left before it pulls away if I keep the handbrake on. Kinda suggest back rear right is not holding as well as the other.

I see the allen adjuster as just a setting as to where the pad/piston should rest at when handbrake and foot brake are off. It's a wormdrive inside.
'92 480 Turbo, full leather and air con

User avatar
SteveR
480 Veteran
Posts: 711
Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:42 pm
Location: SE corner of Dorset, by the surf reef
Contact:

Post by SteveR » Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:43 pm

Recently di dmine cos teh 2-1 was at 45dgrees.
Offside piston was a bit tight so freed that up and wound adjuster with handbrake off until disc couldnt move then backed off. Not much chage to 2-1 but then did the same with the nearside and now brakes are even and also had to slack off the 2-1 nut to achieve 5/6 clicks
Steve Robson
---------------
This was my K Reg 2L LtdEdn TwoTone - now sold
Image
At Nurburgring (pic Suddy)

No longer a 480 owner :-(

catgroom
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 3418
Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2003 9:20 pm
Location: Market Deeping
Contact:

.

Post by catgroom » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:22 pm

@John Hi mate-definately yes,you need to adjust up the allen bolts adjusters in the calipers first,then I do the handbrake to tension the cable properly.My handbrake is usually on about 1-2 clicks.

Why oh why though do 480s,even when everythings new,still need the handbrake adjusting sooooo bloomin often???

Its just silly that! :angry:
I'm No Longer Here :(

http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=34359&start=20

User avatar
martinholmesuk
Friend of Club 480 Europe
Posts: 10049
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2002 9:43 pm
Location: West Sussex

Post by martinholmesuk » Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:47 am

You have to remember, Paul, that making coffee is very much like making love to a beautiful woman. It has to be hot, it has to be strong, you've got to grind your beans slowly... and at the last moment, add the milk.
:lol: now that is silly but very funny!
Volvo 940 Turbo 19T (real Volvo :P)
Audi TT

User avatar
johnd
480 Expert
Posts: 675
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2003 1:59 pm

Post by johnd » Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:46 pm

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Took the 480 back in and it failed again on effort. They said they presumed the adjuster springs were too far forward and that I should re-adjust.

Slackened off handbrake completely, adjusted the 4mm bolts so the brakes were just rubbing, pumped the pedal and then re-tightened the handbrake cable again...........took it in (for the fourth time!!) and it's still failing.

The pads have about 50% of wear left and the discs seem OK. The car has been sat for most of the past six months but gave them some stick on the way to the MOT.

Any ideas guys? Im pulling my hair out on this one.

John
Citroen 2CV, lowered on 12" Wooden wheels, performance 1cm exhaust, stabilisers & chemical toilet in drivers seat

94 480 Turbo - now the missus's car!

Judas's car!! - 292BHP Celica GT4....I couldn't help myself!!

User avatar
robkendall
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2694
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 11:28 am
Location: 2nd star on the left and straight on til morning

Post by robkendall » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:29 pm

hi john...

only thing i can think is that the handbrake cables have streched?
i mean the two seperate ones that all hook together under the exhaust.
only way to find out for sure is to change em.
i assume youve been under there and fiddled about with the adjusters there too?
the cables havent slipped, and made the little crossbar bit go lopsided?
happened on mine....so one side was pulling loads, the other hardly at all...straightened it all out, and it was fine.

rgrds
rob
Warning! This post may contain traces of humour, sarcasm or wit. In case of allergic reaction call 0800 123 456 for free and confidential abuse. [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/saracen480/spank.gif[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/saracen480/armynewx.jpg[/img]

User avatar
johnd
480 Expert
Posts: 675
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2003 1:59 pm

Post by johnd » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:35 pm

Hi Rob,

Yep, brand new cables and I adjusted the centre screw after adjusting the worm drive adjusters.

I do have some new pads to fit but do you think this would make a massive difference to the effort?

Cheers

John
Citroen 2CV, lowered on 12" Wooden wheels, performance 1cm exhaust, stabilisers & chemical toilet in drivers seat

94 480 Turbo - now the missus's car!

Judas's car!! - 292BHP Celica GT4....I couldn't help myself!!

480_rocket
480 Veteran
Posts: 799
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2004 8:36 am
Location: Somerset, UK

Post by 480_rocket » Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:51 pm

Mine passed it's MOT last week.

However, I parked it in front of a friends car, It was in gear and hand brake up very tight.

About 10-15 minutes later we were stood around and heard a crunch. Looked over and mine had rolled down the slope about 1-2 metres and smashed my friends headlight and bent the bumper mounts. Not happy at all.
'92 480 Turbo, full leather and air con

User avatar
Murf
Friend of Club 480 Europe
Posts: 4600
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2003 12:45 am
Location: Inverness
Contact:

Post by Murf » Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:22 pm

how did it roll if it was in gear?
Kia Pro'ceed GT 1.6 Turbo
1992 480 Turbo
2007 Focus ST

User avatar
SteveR
480 Veteran
Posts: 711
Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:42 pm
Location: SE corner of Dorset, by the surf reef
Contact:

Post by SteveR » Tue Sep 27, 2005 10:25 pm

Whan I had my problem I found the piston semi seized/tight - it was b hard to move any way - so I worked at it till it moved, put the caliper back on and worked it again with a big scredriver between caliper and outside pad, did the adjustable thingys and it passed the test. I had even bought two new calipers from GSF ready to put on - they refunded no problem (within 7 days) and they were the cheapest by far. Now I just need to replace the piston rubbers which are shot - hence the seized/tight piston.
Steve Robson
---------------
This was my K Reg 2L LtdEdn TwoTone - now sold
Image
At Nurburgring (pic Suddy)

No longer a 480 owner :-(

User avatar
johnd
480 Expert
Posts: 675
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2003 1:59 pm

Post by johnd » Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:03 am

Cheers guys,

I'm going to fit the new pads tomorrow so ill check out the state of the pistons and give the discs a good grind while i'm at it.

John
Citroen 2CV, lowered on 12" Wooden wheels, performance 1cm exhaust, stabilisers & chemical toilet in drivers seat

94 480 Turbo - now the missus's car!

Judas's car!! - 292BHP Celica GT4....I couldn't help myself!!

User avatar
rs510e
480 Newbie
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:41 pm

Post by rs510e » Tue Oct 25, 2005 9:06 pm

I was looking to tighten my hand brake today, and i did the tightening where the cables split to each wheel, and it make a little difference. People have sed its not the best way to do it and i was looking again to see where i can tighten it from the calipers. can anyone guide me through it? Pics would help alot.
http://rs510.deviantart.com/

Post Reply